With eleven games to go until the end of the season, it’s fair to say Hull City head coach Nigel Adkins has something of a dilemma on his hands.

A string of players have graduated from the treatment room and back into the first-team fold in recent weeks, significantly boosting the options available to head coach heading into the final stretch of the campaign.

The return of Abel Hernandez puts the strikers under pressure, Harry Wilson, Markus Henriksen and Kamil Grosicki have returned while Stephen Kingsley and Moses Odubajo have started training after overcoming their respective long-term injuries.

While Adkins will welcome the strength in depth he now has at his disposal, it brings about a few selection dilemmas for the head coach, none more so than in defence.

With four centre-backs now fit and available Adkins has a decision to make against Norwich City on Saturday, as in the current 4-2-3-1 system he will be forced to leave two out.

Tigers writer Will Jackson gives a rundown of the head coach’s defensive options this weekend.

Michael Dawson

Adkins has spoken on several occasions about how important he deems his skipper to be in his team, especially after standing by Dawson following the news he came close to joining Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day.

The defender missed two games following the closure of the transfer window through injury, but has since resumed his role in the middle of the defence.

Michael Dawson of Hull City (Image: Focus)

The 34-year-old enjoyed two excellent games against Sheffield United and Barnsley, scoring the equalising goal in the latter, however, he struggled to cope with the physicality of Millwall on Tuesday night and that cost the Tigers dear in the first half.

In truth it could just as easily have been Dawson singled out by the head coach in the post-match press conference rather than Angus MacDonald, who was replaced at half-time against the Lions.

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However, as it stands the Tigers have a real dearth of experience in the squad at the moment, something which Dawson brings in abundance. His age has been apparent several times this season, most recently at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland youngster Joel Asoro showed him up, but he still has plenty to offer this Hull City side when it comes to guidance and know-how.

He may seem destined for the exit door in summer, but the former England international will feel he still has a major role to play as the Tigers bid to avoid a second straight relegation.

Angus MacDonald

Despite missing the last eight weeks of his Barnsley career with a so-called iron deficiency, Angus MacDonald hit the ground running at the KCOM Stadium following his deadline day move across Yorkshire.

Thrown in at the deep end, MacDonald has largely impressed in black and amber, at least that was until Tuesday night.

The defender endured a wretched evening against Millwall and after allowing the visitors to take the lead after just 51 seconds. It didn’t get any easier and with his confidence shot he struggled to get a foothold in the game as the imposing pair of Lee Gregory and Tom Elliott dominated.

Angus MacDonald of Hull City (Image: Focus)

He was promptly replaced at half-time and his head coach did not mince his words after the game, delivering a scathing dressing down of the centre-back in the press.

“I should have taken him off in the first minute,” said the City head coach after the game. “He was shocking in the first half. That was an area we knew we had to deal with and we didn’t do. Angus MacDonald is very good at heading the football but he wasn’t in the first half.”

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MacDonald can have no complaints if he finds himself out of the team to face Norwich on Saturday, but could Adkins give the player the benefit of the doubt?

Ondrej Mazuch

The former Czech Republic international’s time at Hull City has been considerably interrupted through injury, limiting him to just nine league appearances in black and amber.

However, in those appearances, Mazuch has impressed with his sturdy, no-nonsense approach. On the ball he isn’t the best and perhaps he has a mistake in him, but his biggest downfall this season has been his inability to stay fit for more than a month.

Mazuch looked at home in the heart of defence when Adkins first came into the club, playing alongside Dawson, but a hamstring injury against Leeds United temporarily put an end to that blossoming partnership and another against the same opponents a month later summed up the frustrating figure.

But, after missing another month he made his return on Tuesday, replacing MacDonald at half-time and for the most part looked more than assured at the back.

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Injuries have proved costly for the 28-year-old, but with season approaching a climax if he can stay fit Adkins could look to him to steady the ship at the back

Michael Hector

The Chelsea loanee arrived at the KCOM Stadium with a healthy reputation and an impressive opening month in black and amber had City fans excited about what the towering defender could bring the Tigers this season.

Michael Hector of Hull City (Image: Focus)

However, as City’s performances slumped so did his confidence and unfortunately he hasn’t really been able to recover. Injuries have ensured Hector has been a regular this season, but mistakes have proved frequent.

As such, he has recently found himself out of the picture after missing the last three games and not even making the match day squad for the visit of Millwall.

That is not to say that he won’t be included before the end of the season and in fact, it is fair to say he turned in one of his best performances for the club just a month ago when his impressive performance alongside MacDonald at Nottingham Forest secured the club’s first win in two months.

The defender has shown on occasions what he is capable of, but has he done enough to persuade Adkins of a spot in the side?